Automatic film cutter

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for automatically and accurately cutting frames from a film strip, which apparatus uses a control system which advances the film strip to a cutter, at a high speed, changes the film strip advancement to a lower speed after the strip reaches a first predetermined position relative to the cutter, and brakes the film strip when it reaches a second predetermined position, at which latter position the cut is made. This operation is performed cyclically as the film advances so that a plurality of accurately cut frames results. Means are further provided for supplying the film strip material without longitudinal tension to avoid damage thereto.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Richard G. Lee

Weston, Mass.

[21] Appl. No. 836,253

[22] Filed June 25, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 17, 1971 [73] Assignee AlvesPhoto Service, Inc.

Braintree, Mass.

[54] AUTOMATIC lFlLM CUTTER 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] 1.1.8. Cl 83/210, 83/236, 83/251, 83/362, 83/364 [51] lint. Cl 826d5/32, B26d 5/34 [50] Field of Search 83/210,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,338,596 1/1944 Pitt etal.83/251 X Primary Examiner-Frank T. Yost Attorney-Roberts, Cushman &Grover ABSTRACT: An apparatus for automatically and accurately cuttingframes from a film strip, which apparatus uses a control system whichadvances the film strip to a cutter, at a high speed, changes the filmstrip advancement to a lower speed after the strip reaches a firstpredetermined position relative to the cutter, and brakes the film stripwhen it reaches a second predetermined position, at which latterposition the cut is made. This operation is performed cyclically as thefilm advances so that a plurality of accurately cut frames results.Means are further provided for supplying the film strip material withoutlongitudinal tension to avoid damage thereto.

PATENTEB we] 7 19.11

SHEET 3 BF 3 J! a" Z9 H a CUT AUTOMATIC FILM CUTTER This inventionrelates generally to machinery for cutting strips of material, such asfilm strips, and, more particularly, to automatic machinery of this typefor providing extreme accuracy in the cutting process and for preventingerroneous cuts from being made as well as for providing protectionagainst damage to the surface of the material during the operation ofthe machine.

In cutting strips of material, such as cutting individual frames from aroll of film strip, it is necessary that machines used for this purposebe capable of exceptional accuracy in locating the line along which acut is to be made. Moreover, it is desirable that such location andcutting operation be performed automatically at a relatively high speedso that the greatest efficiency of operation can be achievedv Aparticular machine for performing such operation has been described inmy previously filed application, Ser. No. 597,920 filed on Nov. 30, 1968now US. Pat, No. 3,469,482,, in which sensing means, responsive toappropriate indicia on a film strip, control an electrical circuit whichoperates a feeding means and a cutting means so that each out can bemade at the correct position between individual prints, or frames, onthe strip. On such prior art machine, described in more detail in mypreviously filed application, an electrically operable combinationclutch and brake assembly is arranged to drive the feed rolls and tobring the film strip to a stop at an appropriately desired location inresponse to the operation of a sensing device which is, in turn,responsive to a predetermined mark or indicia on the edge of the filmstrip. When the film strip has been appropriately braked to a stop,actuation of a I revolution clutch occurs, such actuation therebycausing a rotary cutter to cut the film while the film is held at astopped state. The placement of the sensing means, which may be suitablephotocell and lamp combination, is adjustable so that the cutting actiontakes place at any desired location.

It has been found, however, that operation of such a device aspreviously described has certain disadvantages. For example, it isdifficult to control the operation of the high-speed motor whichisdriving the film strip through the machine so as to cause it always tocome to an abrupt stop at the correct position for cutting. Themechanical and electrical inertias in volved in the mechanical elementsof the apparatus as well as in its electrical circuitry are not soeasily controlled so as to bring a fast-moving film strip to a completestop at the proper point each time. Hence, the accuracy of the cutcannot be assured and, thus, the cut may not be exactly on the desiredline midway between the frames. This invention provides an improvementin such a device which improvement produces greater accuracy in cutting,while at the same time prevents undue damage or scratching of the filmsurface.

In overcoming the deficiencies of the previous machine, this inventionprovides for the use of at least two sensing means, a first one of whichis actuated by appropriate indicia on or near the edge of the film stripso as to decouple the drive shaft from the main high-speed drive motorand subsequently to couple such shaft to an auxiliary slow-speed drivemotor. The film strip then advances at a relatively slower speed untilthe indicia moves into a position to be sensed by a second sensingmeans. Activation of the second sensing means causes the drive shaft tobe decoupled from the slow speed drive motor and simultaneously appliesan electric brake to stop the shaft and, hence, to stop the film strip.When the strip is stopped, the cutter means, which may be, for example,of the type mentioned above and described in my previous application, isactuated. Upon completion of the cut, the brake is removed and the highspeed motor is again coupled to the drive shaft to resume the high-speedfilm advance. The use of an intermediate slowdown stage of operationallows the film strip to be stopped in a much more accurate manner sothat appropriate cuts exactly midway between frames can be made in arepeatable fashion as desired.

Another disadvantage found in previous machines of this type is that thesurfaces of the film are sometimes found to be scratched or otherwisedamaged during operation thereof. Such damage is primarily due to thefact that the drive means causes the film strip to be unwound from itsstorage spindle under tension. Since such tension cannot be maintainedat a constant value over the time period of operation of the machine, acertain amount of intermittent increase and decrease of such tensionoccurs. Such operation causes the film to move in a substantiallyoscillatory manner on its spindle so that surfaces of the film, which iswound in a coil on such spindle, tend to rub against each other andcause slight imperfections to arise,

In this invention, such disadvantages are substantially eliminated byproviding a means for driving the spindle so that the film is unwound toform a relatively loose loop before being driven forward by the maindrive means. The loose film loop extends generally downwardly into awell and, as described in more detail below, a third sensing element isutilized to maintain the depth of such loop at an appropriate level sothat no tension is exerted upon the film supply as it is withdrawn fromthe supply spindle.

A particular embodiment of the strip is described in more detail withthe help of the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. I shows a diagrammatic view of the elements of the machine;

FIG. 2, 2A, 2B, and 2C show a film strip in various stages of itsadvancement during the operation of the device; and

FIG. 3 shows a diagram of the control circuit utilized in the operationof the device.

The structure of the invention has a general basic similarity to thatshown and described in my above-referred and previously filedapplication in that it uses a cutting means, guiding means, and generalspindle and drive shaft means as described therein. Consequently, manyof the details discussed and described in such previous application willnot be repeated here and reference is made thereto for such purpose.

The diagrammatic view of FIG. 1 shows a spindle 10 on which is wound acoil 11 of material, such as a roll of film, for example, which spindlethereby is adapted to supply such material in the form of a strip 12 forprocessing. A suitable drive motor (not shown) is utilized to drivespindle 10 so as to cause such strip to be withdrawn from the spindle ina generally downward direction as shown. The film strip is therebycaused to form a loop 13 which extends downwardly from the supplyspindle and thence upwardly to a position between an upper flanged guideroller 14 and a lower idler roller 15.

The film strip then passes through a second roller combination in theform of an upper flanged guide roller 16 and a low idler roller 17,upper roller 16 being appropriately spring loaded to bear against theupper surface 1% of film strip 12 by the combination of spring 19 androcker arm 20. Film strip 12 is subsequently passed between an upperdrive roller 21 and lower idler roller 22, lower roller 22 beingappropriately spring loaded to provide a pressure nip between rollers 21and 22 so as to drive film strip 112 in the forward direction as shownby the arrows. Film strip 12 thereby travels to a location at the cutterwhich, for example, comprises a combination of a fixed cutter blade 23and a rotary butting blade 24 in much the same manner as shown withreference to my previously filed application. Rotation of rotary cuttingbiade 24 provides an extremely good transverse cut of the film so that aframe 25 that has been cut away from the main. film strip portion canthen drop into an appropriate receiving hopper 26 as shown.

Appropriate high speed and low speed motors, brake, and clutchmechanisms (not shown in detail in FIG. 1 and shown diagrammatically inFIG. 3) are appropriately mounted adjacent the drive rollers in asuitable housing 34. The structure and mounting of such mechanisms aredeemed to be well within the skill of those in the art and,consequently, they are not shown in further detail.

Mounted between guide rollers 16 and 17, and drive rollers 21 and 22,are a pair of sensing elements 27 and 28. Each of said sensing elementsincludes an upper lamp for directing light downwardly toward a lowerphotocell device. For example, sensing element 27 includes a lamp 2 anda photocell 30 while sensing element 28 includes a lamp 31 and aphotocell 32. Such photocell devices are of conventional type whichproduce a change in electrical resistance with a change in lightimpinging on a light-sensitive element thereof. Sensing element 27 ishereafter sometimes referred to as the low speed scanner" sensingelement while sensing element 28 is sometimes hereinafter referred to asthe stop scanner" sensing element.

A third optical sensing element 33 is shown mounted on one side of arecess or well 34 located below film supply spindle 10. For example, anappropriate combination of a lamp and a photocell is mounted at an innerwall 37 of well 34 and an appropriate reflector in the form, forexample, of a beaded reflecting tape 38 is mounted at the opposite innerwall 39 of well 34 in line with the lamp and photocell combinationaperture 40. Thus, light from the lamp is reflected from reflector 38and the reflected energy therefrom is picked up by the photocell viaaperture 40. When the film loop i3 is below a line 41 between thephotocell aperture and the reflector, the photocell has a particularresistance value. If film loop 13 is raised to a point where all of thefilm is located completely above line 41, as shown by dot-dash loop line36, the resistance of the photocell changes to a new value and causesthe film supply drive motor to be actuated so as to increase the size ofthe loop, as described in more detail below.

The general operation of the device can be described more easily withthe help of FIGS. 1, 2, 2A, 2B and 2C. The film strip 12 is shown ascomprising a plurality of frames 25a, 25b, 250, etc. which are to be cutfrom the main film strip along cut lines 43 as shown. Substantiallymidway between the cut lines at the beginning and end of each frame isan appropriate indicia, or cut mark, which is shown in FIG. 2 as asubstantially rectangular darkened region 44 having a sharp leading edge45. As the film advances at high speed to a position as shown in FIG. 2Adue to the actuation of drive rollers 21 and 22 by a high speed motor, acut mark 44 nears the sensing elements 27 and 28, the slowdown scanningelement 27 being first encountered by a particular cut mark, as shown inFIG. 2A. As leading edge 45 of cut mark 44 starts to pass by sensingelement 27, the photocell 30 thereof senses the change in the lightbeing transmitted thereto from its associated lamp 29 and, consequently,senses the position of the leading edge 45 of cut mark 44. As describedin more detail later with reference to FIG. 3, sensing element 27,thereby causes the high-speed drive motor to be decoupled from the driveshaft of drive roller 21 and the film strip tends to coast, through thedistance 46, as shown in FIG. 28, without a positive drive means coupledto the drive shaft, until such drive shaft is appropriately coupled to aslow-speed motor when the film strip reaches the position shown in FIG.2B. Coupling occurs, for example, when the film has advanced so that thecut mark is at some point X between sensing element 27 and sensingelement 28. When the slow-speed motor is appropriately coupled to thedrive shaft of drive roller 21, the film is caused to travel forwardthrough a distance 47 at a much slower rate than it had been travelingunder the operation of the high-speed motor. As the cut mark 44 reachesstop scanner sensing element 28, at the position shown in FIG. 2C, thephotocell 32 of such element senses the change in light transmissionfrom its associated lamp 31 and thereby appropriately senses the leadingedge 45 of cut mark 44 in a manner similar to that discussed withreference to sensing element 27.

In a manner described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 3, theactuation of sensing element 28 thereby causes the slow-speed motor tobe decoupled from the drive shaft of drive roller 21 and simultaneouslycauses a brake to be applied to such drive shaft. The film advance isthereby immediately stopped at a position such that cut line 43 islocated directly along the out line 48 of cutting blades 23 and 24. Suchcutting blades are then appropriately actuated to cut the film striptransversely along cut line 43 and thereby to remove frame 25a from themain film strip. The use of an intermediate slowdown stage where theadvancement of the film strip passes froma high-speed to'a relativelylow speed drive allows the film strip to be stopped more accurately atthe cut line and the cutting operation becomes repeatably accurate to amuch greater degree than was possible in previously used devices.

As can be seen from the diagrammatic view of FIG. 1, the film strip canbe withdrawn from its supply spindle without tension because of the loopformed at the initial portion of the film strip travel. As soon as theloop becomes smaller, that is, the bottom of the loop is raised to aposition above line 41, actuation of sensing element 33 causes a spindledrive motor to drive a shaft attached to film supply spindle 10 so as toprovide a positive drive for the film roll in the direction of itsassociated arrow so as to increase the size of the loop and bring itbelow line 41.

In some applications it may be desirable to sue an indicia other thanthe darkened cut mark region shown in FIGS. 2 2C. For example, where itis desired to cut individual sheets from a roll of unexposed,unprocessed film it is necessary to avoid using visible light sourcesand to utilize energy sources in a different portion of the frequencyspectrum, such as infrared energy sources. In such circumstances, thecut mark regions described above can be replaced with a hole, or notch,appropriately punched along the edge of the film. The circuitry is thenarranged so that, when infrared energy senses the presence of the notchand is thereupon passed through the notch to the infrared photocellscanning element, the film is appropriately changed from its high speedto its low speed of travel at the first sensing element and, thence, isbrought to a stop at the second sensing element in a mannersubstantially similar to that discussed above. Although the notched filmmay be prepared ahead of time, an appropriate device for punching anotch in the film strip may be incorporated directly into the apparatusof the invention so that successive notches may be punched while thefilm is being conveyed through the apparatus. Thus, if the punchingdevice is located, for example, a single frame length away from the stopscanner sensing element, the apparatus can be arranged to energize thenotch punching device simultaneously with the energization of thecutting blades, In addition an infrared energy source and photocellarrangement can also be used in sensing element 33 which controls thesupply of film from supply spindle 10.

Qperation of the electrical circuitry in combination with the sensingcontrol elements of the device can be described most easily withreference to FIG. 3 which shows an overall circuit diagram for usetherewith.

In HO. 3 a conventional llO-volt, 60-cycle AC power supply 52 isutilized as the main power source for the operation of the device. Afirst high-speed motor 46 and a low speed motor 48 are connected to thepower supply via switch 53, the overall input power being supplied tothe device through an appropriate fuse 54. A pair of low voltage ACsources 55 and 56 are obtained via the operation of transformer 57, theprimary of which is connected to the input power source through switch58. A first secondary winding 59 of transformer 57 supplies a low ACvoltage of approximately 6 volts, for example, the input terminals ofaconventional bridge rectifier circuit 88 which provides a DC outputvoltage via resistor-capacitor circuit 8 to operate the excitation lamps2% and 31 of sensing elements 27 and 28, respectively. The resistor maybe a variable one, as shown, so that the lamp excitation current can beappropriately adjusted as desired. A second winding 60 of transformer 57supplies approximately 15 volts, for example, to operate photocell andamplifier circuitry 61, 62 and 63, respectively, as shown bycorresponding terminals A-A.

Circuitry 61 includes photocell (shown as a variable resistance 30) andan amplifier 64, the amplifying characteristics of which are controlledby the resistance value of photocell 30, the output of such amplifierthereby being caused to excite a first relay coil 66. Circuitry 62,comprising photocell 32 and amplifier 65, similarly is caused to excitea relay coil 67. Circuitry 63, including amplifier 68 and relay contacts75A, is utilized to excite a third relay coil 69 and, hence, to actuatethe latter s associated relay contacts 69A and 69B, as described in moredetail below.

A full wave rectifier 70, connected to input power source 52 throughswitch 53, has its positive output terminal 71 connected to one side ofa pair of clutches 72 and 73, an electric brake 74 and a relay coil 75,as shown in FIG. 3, while its negative output terminal 76 is connectedto the center contact of relay switching contacts 78A associated with arelay coil 78. The normally closed relay contact thereof is connected tothe center contact of relay contacts 67A associated with relaycoil 67 ofcircuitry 62 and the normally open contact is connected to the otherside of brake 74, to the normally open contact 67A, and to relay coil75, as shown. The normally closed contact of relay contacts 67A isconnected to the center contact of relay contacts 66A associated withrelay coil 66 of circuitry 61, while the normally closed and normallyopen contacts of 66A are connected to clutches 72 and 73, respectively.

The center contact of a second set of relay contacts 67B associated withrelay coil 67 is connected to one side of AC power supply source 52. Thenormally closed contact thereof is connected to the center contact of asingle-pole, doublethrow switch 79 and the normally open contact of 6713is connected to the center contact of a second set of relay contacts 788of relay 78 and a solid state rectifier 80. The normally open contact ofswitch 79 is connected to the normally open contact of 788, while thenormally closed contact of the latter is connected to the center ofanother single-pole, doublethrow switch 81 the operation of which isganged to that of switch 79. Rectifier 80 is connected through aresistor 82 to relay coil 78, the other side of relay coil 78 in turnbeing con nected to a manual, pushbutton switch 83 as shown. A capacitor84 is connected directly across relay coil 78,

The normally open contact of ganged switch 81 is con nected to a cut"solenoid coil 85 which is used to actuate a l -revolution clutch-drivemechanism of the type described in my above-mentioned previously filedapplication, which mechanism in turn actuates the rotary cutting bladewhen such solenoid coil is energized.

Having, thus, described the configuration of circuit diagram of FIG. 3,the operation of the device now can be discussed in more detail. Theoperator of the device actuates control switch 58 which therebyenergizes transformer 57 for supplying excitation voltage to lamps 29and 31 and for supplying power to amplifier modules 61, 62 and 63 andthence to photocells 3t) and 32. The operator then actuates motor switch53 which turns on both high-speed drive motor 46 and low speed drivemotor 48. At this point, clutch 72 is energized by the output from fullwave rectifier 70 through sets of relay contacts 78A, 67A, and 66A,which are in their normally closed positions shown in the figure.Actuation of clutch 72 connects motor 46 to the shaft of drive roller 21and, thus, high-speed advancement of the film strip occurs.

The operator then sets the ganged cut switches 79 and 81 to the cut"position as indicated in FIG. 3. At this stage the film is advancing ata high rate of speed which in a preferred embodiment may be in the orderof magnitude of inches per second. When the cut mark 44 on the filmstrip edge reaches the low speed scanner element 27, the cut mark isinterposed between the photocell 30 and lamp 29 so that the lightintensity on and, consequently, the resistance of photocell 30 changesand an appropriate output signal from amplifier cir cuitry 61 (theoutput of which was formerly zero or, at least, below the thresholdlevel required to energize relay coil 66) is produced so as to energizerelay coil 66, Relay coil 66 is arranged to remain energized for a timeperiod determined by the timed operation of amplifier module circuitry61, as explained further below. Energization of relay coil 66 causesactuation of relay contacts 66A so as to remove energizing voltage fromclutch 72 and apply such energizing voltage to clutch 73.

Deenergization of clutch 72 causes the film strip to coast for a shortperiod of time without any drive means attached to drive roller 21. Theenergization of clutch 73 is arranged to occur a short time later (dueto the mechanical inertial of the elements involved) and therebyprovides such coasting period, after which the drive shaft of drivingroll 21 is connected to low speed motor 48 so that the film stripcontinues to be advanced from that point on at a lower rate of speedwhich, in a preferred embodiment, may be in the order of magnitude ofone-half inch per second. As described below, amplifier module circuitry61 is timed so as to remain in operation long enough to allow the cutmark 44 to reach the stop sensing element 28 but not long enough toallow the film strip to be advanced by slow-speed motor 48 after a cuthas been made. So long as circuitry 61 is in operation and relay 66 isactuated the cut solenoid 85 can be actuated.

When the cut mark 44 on the film strip edge reaches the stop scannerelement 28, the cut mark is interposed between the photocell 32 and lamp31 so that the light intensity on photocell 32, and hence, itsresistance changes and an ap propriate output signal from amplifiercircuit 62 (the output of which was formerly zero or, at least, belowthe threshold level required to energize relay coil 67) is produced soas to energized relay coil 67. Relay coil 67 is arranged to remainenergized for a time period determined by the timed operation ofamplifier module circuitry 62, as explained further below.

Energization of relay coil 67 causes actuation of relay contacts 67A and67B. Actuation of relay contacts 67A removes energizing voltage fromclutch 73 and energizes brake 74, thus, stopping the travel of filmstrip 12 in a positive manner. Since the film strip at that point istraveling at a relatively slow speed, application of brake 74 brings thestrip to an immediate stop when the leading edge ofcut mark 44intercepts the path between photocell 32 and lamp 31, Thus, out line 43is stopped accurately at its desired position relative to cutting blades23 and 24.

Actuation of relay contacts 67B thereby applies AC power from powersource 52 to cut solenoid 8 5 via contacts 788 and switch 81, thus,releasing a l-revolution drive clutch (not shown) to power the rotaryknife blade in a manner such as is described in adequate detail in myabove-referenced, previously filed application. Actuation of the relaycontacts 678 simultaneously provides a DC voltage from rectifier to thecircuit comprising resistor 82 and capacitor 84 which circuit controlsthe energization of relay coil 78. When capacitor 84 is sufficientlycharged, relay coil 78 is energized so that its relay contacts 78B areactuated to remove power from the cut solenoid coil 85. The resistor andcapacitor values are selected so as to control the length of time thatthe cut solenoid is energized in order to provide for one, and only one,activation of rotary cutting blade 24.

As described below, amplifier module circuitry 62 is timed to remain inoperation only long enough to allow the cutting blades to make their cutand to have the rotary cutting blades return to its normal position soas not to interfere w..h film advance for the next cycle of operation.

The timing of the operation of amplifier circuit modules 61 and 62 isaccomplished by the operation of amplifier mOClIll 63. Relay contacts69A are arranged, when actuated, to provide a ground disablingconnection to amplifier 65 and relay contacts 698 are arranged, whenactuated, to provide a ground disabling connection to amplifier 64.Consequently, when actuation of relay contacts 67A occurs (at the timecut mark 44 reaches the stop scanning element), relay coil 75 isenergized and relay contacts 75A are actuated so as to activateamplifier module circuitry 63 so as to produce an output excitationvoltage for relay coil 69. The: operating time of circuit module 68 isset to maintain energization of relay coil 69 and, hence, actuation ofrelay contacts 69A and 69B for a preselected time interval so thatamplifier modules 61 and 62 are appropriately timed out (i.e., they aremade inactive) after a out has been made.

When amplifier circuitry 62 is, thus, made inactive, relay coil 67 isdeenergized, thereby releasing brake 74 and reenergizing clutch 72,provided amplifier circuitry 61 is also inactive. The film thenrecommences to advance at high speed to begin the next feed-and-cutcycle. Release of relay 67 also releases relay 75 which thereby preventsoperation of amplifier circuitry 63 which then deenergizes relay coil 69and, hence, causes relay contacts 69A and 698 to return to theirnormally open positions so that amplifiers 61 and 62 can resume theirnormal operation for the next cycle. So long as relay coil 69 isenergized it is impossible to obtain an output voltage at relays 66 and67 from amplifier circuit modules 61 and 62. This arrangement, thus,provides for an adjustably controlled blanking feature, the time inwhich amplifier module circuitry 63 is excited being adjusted to suitthe intervals between cut marks 44. Capacitors 86 and 87 are used tofilter out any false blanking signals such as may be caused by linetransients, for example.

Thus, the invention provides for automatically feeding the stripmaterial and successively actuating the high-speed motor 46, the lowspeed motor 48, and the brake 74 in a cyclic fashion whereby the stripchanges its speed of travel from high speed to low speed when it reachesa first predetermined position along the path of travel and, then, stopswhen it reaches a second predetermined position.

What I claim is:

l. A machine for cutting strip material comprising cutting means;

means for supplying a continuous strip of said material for movementalong a predetermined path of travel toward said cutting means;

first means for moving said strip material at a first speed along saidpath of travel;

second means for moving said strip material at a second speed along saidpath of travel, said second speed being slower than said first speed;

braking means for stopping the movement of said strip material;

control means for successively actuating said first moving means saidsecond moving means, and said braking means in a cyclic fashion, wherebysaid strip material is successively and cyclically caused to move alongsaid path at said first speed, to change its speed of travel to saidsecond speed when selected portions of said strip material reach a firstpredetermined position along said path of travel; and

means for actuating said cutting means to cut said strip material eachtime said strip material is stopped.

2. A machine for cutting strip material in accordance with claim 1wherein said supplying means includes means for supplying said stripmaterial without longitudinal tension.

3. A machine for cutting strip material in accordance with claim 1wherein said control means includes first sensing means responsive to achange in the characteristics of said strip material for producing afirst control signal;

means responsive to said first control signal for disabling said firstmoving means and for actuating said second moving means;

second sensing means responsive to said change in the characteristics ofsaid strip material for producing a second control signal;

means responsive to said second control signal for disabling said secondmoving means and for actuating said braking means.

4. A machine for cutting strip material in accordance with claim 3 andfurther including means for delaying the actuation of said second movingmeans for a preselected time period after the disabling of said firstmoving meansv 5. A machine for cutting strip material in accordance withclaim 3 and further comprising means responsive to said second controlsignal for actuating said cutting means when said strip material isstopped. I

6. A machine for cutting strip material In accordance with claim 3wherein said first and said second sensing means each includes a lightsource for directing energy toward a portion of said strip material fromone side thereof; photoelectric means responsive to a change in theenergy transmission characteristics of said portion of said stripmaterial to produce an electrical signal; and circuit means forproducing a control signal in response to said electrical signal. 7. Amachine for cutting strip material in accordance with claim 6, whereinsaid energy is visible light energy.

1. A machine for cutting strip material comprising cutting means; meansfor supplying a continuous strip of said material for movement along apredetermined path of travel toward said cutting means; first means formoving said strip material at a first speed along said path of travel;second means for moving said strip material at a second speed along saidpath of travel, said second speed being slower than said first speed;braking means for stopping the movement of said strip material; controlmeans for successively actuating said first moving means said secondmoving means, and said braking means in a cyclic fashion, whereby saidstrip material is successively and cyclically caused to move along saidpath at said first speed, to change its speed of travel to said secondspeed when selected portions of said strip material reach a firstpredetermined position along said path of travel; and means foractuating said cutting means to cut said strip material each time saidstrip material is stopped.
 2. A machine for cutting strip material inaccordance with claim 1 wherein said supplying means includes means forsupplying said strip material without longitudinal tension.
 3. A machinefor cutting strip material in accordance with claim 1 wherein saidcontrol means includes first sensing means responsive to a change in thecharacteristics of said strip material for producing a first controlsignal; means responsive to said first control signal for disabling saidfirst moving means and for actuating said second moving means; secondsensing means responsive to said change in the characteristics of saidstrip material for producing a second control signal; means responsiveto said second control signal for disabling said second moving means andfor actuating said braking means.
 4. A machine for cutting stripmaterial in accordance with claim 3 and further including means fordelaying the actuation of said second moving means for a preselectedtime period after the disabling of said first moving means.
 5. A machinefor cutting strip material in accordance with claim 3 and furthercomprising means responsive to said second control signal for actuatingsaid cutting means when said strip material is stopped.
 6. A machine forcutting strip material in accordance with claim 3 wherein said first andsaid second sensing means each includes a light source for directingenergy toward a portion of said strip material from one side thereof;photoelectric means responsive to a change in the energy transmissioncharacteristics of said portion of said strip material to produce anelectrical signal; and circuit means for producing a control signal inresponse to said electrical signal.
 7. A machine for cutting stripmaterial in accordance with claim 6, wherein said energy is visiblelight energy.